Effect of Probiotic and β-Mannanase Supplementation on the Productive Performance and Intestinal Health of Broiler Chickens Challenged by <i>Eimeria maxima</i> and <i>Clostridium perfringens</i>

Abstract

The use of antibiotics in poultry farming has been associated with bacterial resistance in humans, leading to a ban on their inclusion in chicken diets. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the effects of probiotics and β-mannanase on the growth performance and intestinal health of broiler chickens challenged by Eimeria maxima and Clostridium perfringens. For this, 2100 one-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were used. The treatments were as follows: T1—Negative control (NC) unchallenged birds; T2—Positive control (PC) challenged with E. maxima + C. perfringens; T3—PC + Antibiotic (Enramycin 8%-125 g/ton); T4—PC + β-mannanase (HemicellHT; 300 g/ton); T5—PC + probiotic (ProtexinTM; 150 g/ton); T6—PC + β-mannanase + probiotic. Significant differences (p p < 0.05) treatments. The use of β-mannanase, probiotics or both together is effective to mitigate the effects of production challenges, through the maintenance of the intestine by modulating action on the cecum microbiome and intestinal morphometry.

Keywords

• coccidiosis
• intestinal permeability
• necrotic enteritis
• natural alternative